Saratoga Springs Police Lt. Robert Jillson is now Assistant Chief Robert Jillson, Investigations Lieutenant. He is shadowing the current Assistant Chief, John Catone, before Catone’s retirement next month.
Jillson said in an interview today he is wearing many hats right now, including that of Public Information Officer as the department goes through the changeover.
He said that he has met together with incoming Commissioner of Public Safety James Montagnino and Chief Shane Crooks.
He said the meeting was aimed at a “plan to start moving forward” with the new administration.
What they did not know at the time was that Montagnino had contracted COVID. He has been home and fighting a fever. Montagnino was masked and protocols were followed both men said. Contact tracing has been completed in the department.
Jillson said they were following protocol now and are taking it in stride.
“We’ve been living the COVID drama since day one,” Jillson, who has had a bout of the disease, said. He added later that “[Montagnino] did all the right things.”
Jillson knows that his position might not last as Montagnino and Dalton have publicly feuded over who gets to make the personnel decisions since Dalton will be exiting office in two weeks.
Montagnino won the role as commissioner during last month’s elections. Dalton lost a campaign for mayor, which she ran instead of trying to keep her seat as Commissioner of Public Safety.
Montagnino has said the decision should be his to make primarily for two reasons.
He has said previously that Catone is retiring in January after Montagnino takes office, so the personnel decision should be Montagnino’s. As well, the state Attorney General’s office is investigating the police department for civil rights violations, and anyone who gets promoted might get caught in the crosshairs of the AG’s office.
The investigation stems from the treatment of Black Lives Matter protestors in Saratoga Springs over the past 18 months.
Dalton said she has heard Montagnino’s arguments before and believes she is on firm ground to make the decision. She said there was nothing untoward in the move.
“This is common practice at City Hall” to promote people into positions before the current occupant leaves, she said. “We do it all the time.”
She added that the assistant chief position is complicated and Catone will have some opportunity to train Jillson.
“We want people to be teed up for success,” Dalton said. “I think it makes really logical sense to most people.”
For his part, Jillson said he knows the arguments and understands that the position he now holds may be recalled.
“We were limited on time,” Jillson said of his meeting with Montagnino and Chief Crooks. “We didn’t delve into that conversation” about the position.
Montagnino is recovering and did not comment for today's story.